Taxonomy, distribution, ecology, population trends and threats of Orthoptera species
Smolenice, Slovakia | 19-21 September 2018
Dear orthopterologists, it is a great pleasure to welcome you to the Second European Congress on Orthoptera Conservation organised by the IUCN SSC Grasshopper Specialist Group (GSG). The host institution is the Institute of Forest Ecology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAS).
The Smolenice village and the well-known Smolenice Castle are situated at the foothill of Malé Karpaty Mts., 60 kms to the north of Bratislava (the capital of Slovakia). The Congress Centre of the SAS is situated in the castle. Each year, numerous international congresses and symposiums with international attendance organised by scientific institutions of the SAS take place there.
You may reach the Smolenice Congress Centre either by bus or car, a free parking is available at the castle parkplace for Congress participants. The next airports are Bratislava or Vienna. For connection to Smolenice from Bratislava you have to reach the substitute bus station Nivy in Bratislava (WARNING! Bus station Nivy is under construction. You have to cross the road to Bottova street for the bus platform).
The Congress Room has a capacity of 100 seats. There is a free wifi internet access in the castle. Full meal service there (a day board is provided per 18.10 €) and 100 beds are available in one-, two-, three-, four-bed rooms or apartments with prices ranging from 25 to 40 € per person (more info). In the registration form you can reserve a room in one of room alternatives in the congress castle. As the capacity of rooms is limited, they availability will be updated during the registration. You may also reserve you own accommodation (please check here).
Click here how to get into Congress Centre at Smolenice Castle
Lectures and posters can cover all fields of taxonomy, ecology, distributional patterns, population trends and conservation implications in the orthopterans world. The Congress should encourage also undergraduate and PhD students to take part in and contribute to a stimulating academic discussion about the most recent developments in their research field. Renowned scientists will be invited to held plenary lectures.
Participants will hear regular (15+5 min) and two plenary (45+15 min) lectures and will have the opportunity to take part in dialogues on a broad range of topics of scientific importance. The programme will include also sessions with posters (dimensions w 90 x h 120 cm and ca. 5 min for oral presentation of each), which will enable all participants to present and discuss their research.
Click here to download the final programme:
A bench will be available for literature and other material exchange between participants as well book and entomological equipment selling. Finally, a post-congress field excursion to surrounding habitats is scheduled as still pleasant weather in late September is expected in Malé Karpaty Mts. More details are coming after registration deadline.
The deadline for regular registration was 15 July 2018. Abstract submission should be made before 31 July 2018! Registration to the congress and abstract submission are two separate processes. You can access the registration system following the link shown below but only registered participants are allowed to submitt abstracts and present. Clik here for REGISTRATION and for ABSTRACTS. Successful registration and abstract submission will be confirmed to your e-mail.
Standard registration fee 50 € Reduced fee (students/pensioners) 30 € Late bird registration (after 15 July) 100/60 € Registration fee includes welcome reception, e-book of abstracts, bag with conference materials and refreshments and coffee/tea during the breaks.
A PDF invoice including your registration fee, sum for selected accommodation and meals will be sent to your e-mail after registration deadline (in July). This invoice is to be paid via bank transfer only and payment must be made in Euros (EUR) to the account that will be provided in the invoice. No cancellation after payment of registration is allowed.
Please, in registration form indicate whether you are interested in attending the post congress field excursion on 22 September (Saturday). This tour is organised for free. Walking trip (up to 6 km one way) in xerothermous forest steppes and light beech and oak forests and forest grasslands of Malé Karpaty Mts Protected Landscape Area should last approximately six hours. We will start from the Congress Centre of the SAS in Smolenice Castle (290 m a.s.l.) cross the mountains via the main ridge (Záruby 767 m a.s.l.), and continue down to Ostrý kameň limestone xerothermophilous forest steppes (555 m a.s.l.). The trip can be shortened optionally.
Feel free to ask your questions using this form